Device for receiving a signal containing text information that can be used for programming the reception

ABSTRACT

In a device ( 1 ) for receiving a signal (S) that can be received via a selectable reception channel, which signal (S) represents visually presentable video information (VI) and text information (TI) contained in the visually presentable video information (VI), firstly, reception stage ( 12 ) is provided, which is designed for the channel-selective reception of the signal (S) in a controllable manner as a function of control information (CI) that can be supplied to the reception stage ( 12 ), and, further, an extraction stage ( 17 ) is provided, to which the video information (VI) can be sent and which is designed to extract the text information (TI) contained in the visually presentable video information (VI), and, further, programming stage ( 20 ) is provided, which, using the extracted text information (TI), is designed for the programmable provision of the control information (CI) for the reception stage ( 12 ).

The invention relates to a device for receiving a signal that can bereceived via a selectable reception channel, which signal representsvideo information and text information, wherein reception means, whichare designed for the channel-selective reception of the signal in acontrollable manner as a function of control information, which can begenerated using the text information, are provided.

The invention further relates to a method for receiving a signal thatcan be received via a selectable reception channel, which signalrepresents video information and text information, wherein, usingreception means, the signal is received channel-selectively, in acontrollable manner, as a function of control information generatedusing the text information and supplied to the reception means.

A device of this kind, of the generic type specified in the firstparagraph, and a method of this kind, of the generic type specified inthe second paragraph are known from document US 2002/0073422 A1.

The known device, with which the known method can be implemented, takesthe form of a television set, which is equipped with reception meansdesigned for the channel-selective reception of a signal assigned to areception channel, namely a television signal. In addition to visuallypresentable video information, such as an entertainment program, textinformation that is not contained in the visually presentable videoinformation is transmitted with the aid of the signal, taking the formof teletext information, which is known to be transmitted in thevertical blanking interval of the television signal separately from thevisually presentable video information. With the aid of the teletextinformation, information is supplied regarding video information thatwill in future be capable of reception with the television signal, whichinformation may concern, for example, a title, a date, a receptionchannel, a transmission time, a description and a duration of theparticular program. The device is further equipped with programmingmeans, which are designed for the programmable provision, using theteletext information, of the control information for the receptionmeans, so video information that will be receivable in the future can bereceived automatically, at the correct moment and with selection of thecorrect reception channel, without any intervention by a user of thedevice.

In the case of the known device and the known method, a first problemconsists in the fact that suitable teletext information for programmingthe reception means is not always available because no generallyapplicable standard exists for the supplying of teletext informationappropriate for programming, and therefore the manner in which thisteletext information is supplied, and whether it is supplied at all,depends on the goodwill of a broadcasting station responsible for aparticular reception channel. A second problem consists in the fact thatthe teletext information appropriate and useable for programming wouldhave to be identified in order to distinguish it simply and quickly fromother teletext information. A third problem is that the teletextinformation appropriate and useable for programming may in somecircumstances have a relatively great data volume, and compression ofthis teletext information would therefore be expedient in order torender the teletext information relatively quickly available, whichwould further require a knowledge of the appropriate compression of theteletext information in order to be able to use it for programming. Byanalogy with the above-mentioned first problem, there is no uniformsolution, such as a standard with which these problems of the arbitrarynature of a broadcasting station would be solved, for the other twoabove-mentioned problems either. A further problem exists in that theteletext information is unfortunately relatively frequently subject tointerference and therefore unusable for programming. As a result, thedesired programmed reception of video information that will bereceivable in the future using the teletext information is not ensuredwith sufficient reliability with the known device.

It is the object of the invention to eliminate the above-mentionedproblems in a device of the generic type specified above in the firstparagraph and in a method of the generic type specified above in thesecond paragraph, and to create an improved device and an improvedmethod.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, in a device in accordance withthe invention, features in accordance with the invention are provided,so that a device in accordance with the invention can be characterizedin the following manner, namely:

Device for receiving a signal that can be received via a selectablereception channel, which signal represents visually presentable videoinformation and text information contained in the visually presentablevideo information, wherein reception means are provided, which aredesigned for the channel-selective reception of the signal in acontrollable manner as a function of control information that can besupplied to the reception means, and wherein downstream of the receptionmeans are provided processing means, which are designed to process thereceived signal and to provide the video information and the textinformation, and wherein the processing means are equipped withextraction means, which are designed to extract the text informationfrom the visually presentable video information, and wherein programmingmeans are provided, which are located downstream of the extraction meansand, using the extracted text information, are designed for theprogrammable provision of the control information for the receptionmeans.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, in a method in accordance withthe invention, features in accordance with the invention are provided,so that a method in accordance with the invention can be characterizedin the following manner, namely:

Method for receiving a signal that can be received via a selectablereception channel, which signal represents visually presentable videoinformation and text information contained in the visually presentablevideo information, wherein, using reception means, the signal isreceived channel-selectively, in a controllable manner, as a function ofcontrol information supplied to the reception means, and wherein thesignal is processed by processing means located downstream of thereception means, and the video information and the text information aresupplied, and wherein the text information is extracted from thesupplied visually presentable video information by extraction meanscontained in the processing means, and wherein the control informationfor the reception means is provided programmably by the programmingmeans located downstream of the extraction means, using the extractedtext information.

The provision of the measures in accordance with the invention givesrise to the advantage that the text information that can be used forprogramming can be obtained directly from visually presentable, andtherefore visually perceptible, video information. Video information ofthis kind may be an insertion of textual information in, for example, apreview—known as a trailer—of a video film. This give rise to thefurther advantage that the text information is available irrespective ofthe presence of teletext information or of any problems associated witha teletext system, and, above all, is always present in plain text, i.e.not encrypted or specially coded, which greatly simplifies theprocessing of text information of this kind. The further advantage isobtained that the text information is actually available in real-time asa component of the video information, and, as such, is also perceivedvisually as an integral component of the video information by a user,which user may have to decide whether, in the future, he would in factwish to receive with the device the particular future video informationannounced. The further advantage is obtained that the text informationis generally available with the normally good picture quality of videoinformation, and therefore generally shows virtually no distortion thatwould impair the processing of the text information. Should a picturedistortion of this kind occur, however, the advantage exists with thesolution in accordance with the invention that this picture distortionis also perceived visually by a user, and the user is made aware orwarned, solely through his perception of the picture distortion, thatthe text information used for the programming may not have been receivedand processed correctly.

With the solutions in accordance with the invention, it has furtherproved advantageous if, in addition, the features as claimed in claim 2and claim 8 are provided. This gives rise to the advantage that, ratherthan the entire video information being used for extraction of the textinformation, it is just one individual picture of the video informationor multiple pictures occurring one after another but not necessarilyimmediately in succession that are used, which, from the processingviewpoint, is significantly easier to deal with than a continuoussuccession of pictures. As a result, the further advantage is obtainedthat recourse may even be had to a picture of the video informationcontaining the text information that occurred in the past, which is tobe used for the programmable provision of the control information forthe reception means, although the currently available video informationmay already no longer contain any useable text information. Inparticular, where multiple pictures are present, the advantage isobtained that, during the extraction of text information, account can betaken of the particular picture that is the most suitable, as regardsthe text information contained within it, for the purposes of theprogramming means. A further advantage where multiple pictures arepresent is that textual information, distributed over a plurality ofpictures, can be combined to form the text information that is to beused for the programmable provision of the control information for thereception means.

With the solutions in accordance with the invention, it has furtherproved advantageous if, in addition, the features as claimed in claim 3and claim 9 are provided. This gives rise to the advantage that the textinformation that can be used for the purposes of the programming meanscan be distinguished in a simple, precise manner from non-useabletextual information. In particular, it has proved advantageous if thetext specimens concern date information or date-information formats thatdirectly allow conclusions to be drawn about the particular useabledate, or indirectly allow conclusions to be drawn about the particularuseable date, as in the case of such textual information as “TODAY”,“TOMORROW” or “AT CHRISTMAS”. It has further proved advantageous if thetext specimens concern time information or time-information formats thatdirectly allow conclusions to be drawn about the particular useableperiod or moment, or indirectly allow conclusions to be drawn about theparticular useable period or moment, as in the case of such textualinformation as “PRIME TIME”, “a.m.”, “p.m.” or “AFTER THE NEWS”.

With the solutions in accordance with the invention, it has furtherproved advantageous if, in addition, the features as claimed in claim 4and claim 10 are provided. This gives rise to the advantage that eventext information that is incomplete for the purpose of the programmingmeans, which may have been caused by, for instance, distorted videoinformation, or by text information that was incomplete from the outset,or, when filtering the pictures, by text information that can befiltered to only a limited extent owing to technical difficulties, willdeliver complete text information to the programming means without anyintervention on the part of a user of the device.

With the solutions in accordance with the invention, it has furtherproved advantageous if, in addition, the features as claimed in claim 5and claim 11 are provided. This gives rise to the advantage that, at awell defined moment, such as when a user of the device sees a trailerfor a video film in which the text information necessary for programmingis inserted as a component of the visually presented video informationat a specific moment or during a time span, the activation informationis sent by a user of the device to the device or the extraction means,and, virtually synchronously with the picture or picture sequence of thetrailer visually perceived by the user, the text information for theprogramming means is extracted from the video information or from theparticular picture or the particular picture sequence containing thetext information.

With the solutions in accordance with the invention, it has furtherproved advantageous if, in addition, the features as claimed in claim 6and claim 12 are provided. This gives rise to the advantage that, forchecking purposes for a user, following on from the extraction of thetext information and the reception of the extracted text information bythe programming means, the text information that is useable or hasalready been used by the programming means is available to the user ofthe device as an insertion, self-generated by the device, into the videoinformation visually presented to the user.

The above aspects and further aspects of the invention are explainedbelow.

The invention will be further described with reference to examples ofembodiments shown in the drawings, to which, however, the invention isnot restricted.

FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic manner in the form of a block circuitdiagram, a device in accordance with a first embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 shows, in a manner analogous with FIG. 1, a device in accordancewith a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows, in the form of a succession of pictures along a time axis,a part of a visually presentable video information over time, whichshows sections of text information contained in the visually presentablevideo information.

FIG. 1 shows a device 1 that realizes a television set and is designedto receive a signal S, namely a television signal. Signal S is emittedby a broadcasting station, not shown in FIG. 1, via a transmissionchannel—a broadcasting transmission channel in the present case—and canbe received by device 1 via a selectable reception channel if thereception channel is coincident with the transmission channel. Signal Srepresents visually presentable video information VI and textinformation TI contained in the visually presentable video informationVI, which text information TI will be described in greater detail belowwith reference to FIG. 3.

Video information VI is illustrated in FIG. 3 in the form of a sequenceof pictures P1 to P6 along a time axis t. The individual pictures P1 toP6 are contained in video information VI in succession, wherein,however, they do not necessarily have to occur directly adjacent to,i.e. immediately after one another, as indicated by five intermediateareas Z1 to Z5 between the pictures P1 to P6, in which intermediateareas Z1 to Z5, further pictures are present. Before a moment T0 andafter a moment T4, video information VI represents a first televisionprogram entitled “The Economist”, the subject of which is the economy.The first television program is indicated symbolically, before moment T0and after moment T4, by means of identical pictures P1 and P6. The firsttelevision program is transmitted by the broadcasting station “SmilingSun” on the transmission channel assigned to this broadcasting station.

At moment T0, the first television program “The Economist” isinterrupted by the broadcasting station, and between moments T0 and T4,an announcement—known as a trailer—for a second television program istransmitted to bring the attention of a user of device 1 to this secondtelevision program entitled “Town Tours”. The subject of the secondtelevision program is towns, wherein, in the present case, the intentionis to draw attention to two parts, namely a first part concerning Parisand a second one concerning London. By way of explaining this trailerthat is visually presentable to a viewer or user of device 1, the fourpictures P2 to P5 are shown as “snapshots” of the trailer betweenmoments T0 and T4 in FIG. 3.

Using first textual information 2 (“Upcoming”) contained in visuallypresentable video information VI, picture P2 indicates to the viewerthat the trailer is merely an advance notification of the secondtelevision program, which will be available in full on a futureoccasion. A first logo 3 for the second television program and a secondlogo 4 for the broadcasting station are further visible. Also containedand visible in video information VI is second textual information 5,concerning a title of the second television program, namely “TownTours”.

Picture P3 contains third textual information 6, namely a first name ofthe town (“Paris”) shown in the first part, which town will be shown inthe second television program that can be received in the future.Picture P3 further contains information giving more precise timingdetails concerning the future availability of the second televisionprogram. To this end, fourth textual information 7, namely dateinformation relative to the date of reception of the trailer(“Tomorrow”), is inserted. Following on from picture P3 in terms oftime, picture P4 gives a further refinement of the details concerningthe future availability of the second television program. To this end,fifth textual information 8, namely relative time information (“PrimeTime”) is inserted, indicating that the second television program willbe receivable at a prime transmission time, between 20.00 and 21.00,characteristic of the broadcasting station “Smiling Sun”.

Using the trailer, reference is further made, in a relatively shorttimespan between moments T3 and T4, to the further part, which will beavailable further in the future, regarding the town of London. To thisend, picture P5 contains sixth textual information 9, namely a secondname of the town (“London”) shown in the second part, which town will beshown in the second television program that can be received in thefuture. Contained in the video information in picture P5 simultaneouslywith sixth textual information 9 are two items of information givingmore precise timing details of the future availability of the secondtelevision program. To this end, seventh textual information 10, namelythe absolute date information (“At Christmas”) and eighth textualinformation 11, namely the absolute time information (“10.30 a.m.”) areinserted.

For the purpose of receiving signal S and making video information VIavailable to the user, device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is equipped withreception means 12 and processing means 13, located downstream ofreception means 12. Reception means 12 is designed for thechannel-selective reception of signal S in a controllable manner as afunction of control information CI, which can be supplied to receptionmeans 12, and reception-means setting information RCI for thechannel-selective reception of signal S, wherein, using the twoinformation items CI and RCI, a reception channel can be selected atreception means 12. Reception means 12 is further designed to deliver tothe processing means 13 an electrical representation of the signal Sreceived via the particular reception channel selected.

Processing means 13 is designed to receive the received signal S and toprocess signal S and to supply video information VI and the textinformation TI contained in video information VI, namely textualinformation items 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. To this end, processingmeans 13 is equipped with video-information decoding means 14,video-presentation-signal generation means 15 and presentation means 16.Video-information decoding means 14 is designed to receive signal S andto decode video information VI from signal S and to supply videoinformation VI to video-presentation-signal generation means 15.Video-presentation-signal generation means 15 is designed to receivevideo information VI and supplementary video information DI, and togenerate and supply video-presentation signal VPS, containing both itemsof information, which is suitable for the joint visual presentation ofboth information items VI and DI. Presentation means 16 is designed forreception of video-presentation signal VPS and for the visualpresentation of video information VI and, if applicable, supplementaryvideo information DI, and, in the present case, is realized by a screenand an electronics system of device 1 assigned to the screen.

Processing means 13 is further equipped with extraction means 17, whichis designed to receive video information VI and to extract textinformation TI from the video information VI and to receive activationinformation AI and to start the extraction of text information TI fromvideo information VI when the activation information AI is received. Tothis end, extraction means 17 is equipped with picture storage means 18and text filtration means 19. Picture storage means 18 is designed toreceive video information VI and to store a single picture of videoinformation VI. Picture storage means 18 is further designed to supplypicture information PI, representing the picture. Text filtration means19 is designed to filter picture information PI in respect of the textinformation TI contained in picture information PI. Text filtrationmeans 19 is further designed to recognize a multiplicity of textspecimens in picture information PI, which are relevant for usage of theextracted text information TI in the programming means 20 locateddownstream of extraction means 17. Examples of the recognizable textspecimens that can be given at this point are date formats, such as“YYYY MM. DD.”, DD. MM. YYYY” or “DD. MMM YYYY”, or textual informationthat enables conclusions as to a specific date information, such as“Tomorrow”, “At Christmas” or “At Santa Claus”. Further examples ofrecognizable text specimens are time formats, such as “HH MM SS”, “HH:MMam” or “HH:MM pm” or textual time information that enables conclusionsas to a specific time, such as “Prime Time”, “Late Night” or “Children'sHour”. It should be expressly stated at this point that theabove-mentioned examples of text specimens constitute just a sample of amultiplicity of options.

Text filtration means 19 is accordingly designed to supply the textinformation TI relevant to the programming means 20, specificallytextual information items 7 and 8 and 10 and 11 respectively. It shouldbe mentioned that text filtration means 19 may also be designed tosupply the text information TI that is not relevant to programming means20, specifically textual information items 2, 5, 6 and 9, in order, forexample, to make available to the user, at programming means 20, aninformation item thematically supporting the relevant text informationTI, i.e. textual information 7 and 8 and 10 and 11 respectively, for thepurpose of checking by the user of device 1.

Programming means 20 is designed for receiving the relevant extractedtext information TI and for receiving programming-means settinginformation PCI and, using the relevant text information TI and/or usingprogramming-means setting information PCI, for the programmableprovision of control information CI for the reception means 12, so that,in accordance with programming undertaken on the basis of the relevanttext information TI, the desired reception channel can be selected byreception means 12 at a correct or desired moment, i.e. at the correctdate and the correct time. Programming means 20 is further designed togenerate and provide the visually presentable supplementary videoinformation DI, which represents the relevant text information TI thatcan be used for the programmable provision of control information CI forreception means 12, and, if applicable, additional information, such astextual information items 2, 5, 6 or 7, so that the particularprogramming for the programmable provision of control information CI canbe visually presented to the user, and can also be checked and/oramended by him.

Device 1 is further equipped with inputting means 21, which is designedin such a way that the activation information AI provided for activationof extraction means 17 can be inputted at device 1, and supplied to theextraction means 17, which is designed to interact, i.e. to receiveactivation information AI. In the present case, inputting means 21 isrealized by remote-control-signal reception/processing means, which isdesigned to receive a remote control signal RCS, transmitted to device 1by means of infrared light from a remote control device, not shown inFIG. 1. Using remote control signal RCS, reception-means settinginformation RCI can also be transmitted to device 1, and a manualselection of the particular reception channel can thus be undertaken atreception means 12. Programming-means setting information PCI canfurther be transmitted to the device by means of remote control signalRCS, and a manual programming of the programmable provision of controlinformation CI for reception means 12 can thus be undertaken. It shouldbe mentioned at this point that inputting means 21 may also be realizedby voice recognition means, which are designed to recognize and processspoken commands. Provision may also be made for information items AI,RCI and PCI to be sent to the device by manual operation of theinputting means 21, which is hereby designed as a keypad.

Using device 1, a method of receiving signal S, which can be receivedvia a selectable reception channel, can also be implemented, wherein,using reception means 12, signal S is selected channel-selectively, in acontrollable manner, as a function of the control information CI whichcan be sent to reception means 12, and is sent to processing means 13.Signal S is processed by processing means 13, and the video informationVI, represented by signal S, in which text information TI is contained,is provided. The provided text information TI is further extracted fromthe visually presentable video information VI by the extraction means 17contained in processing means 13, and the control information CI isprovided for reception means 12 by the programming means 20 downstreamof extraction means 17, using the extracted text information TI.

The extraction of the text information TI from video information VI isstarted at extraction means 17 by means of the reception of activationinformation AI, wherein, for example, activation information AI isgenerated between the moments T2 and T3 shown in FIG. 3 by a user ofdevice 1 using a remote control device, and inputted to device 1 viainputting means 21. Using picture storage means 18, picture P4, which isrepresented in digital form by picture information PI, is hereby stored,and picture information PI is delivered to text filtration means 19.

In accordance with the method, picture information PI is filtered bytext filtration means 19 as regards the text information TI containedwithin picture information PI, and the relevant text information TIfiltered from picture information PI is delivered. With the method,fourth textual information 7 “Tomorrow” is recognized by text filtrationmeans 19 as a text specimen enabling a conclusion to be drawn as to aspecific date, namely the following day. Fifth textual information 8(“Prime Time”) is further recognized as a text specimen enabling aconclusion to be drawn as to a specific time, namely the peaktransmission time of the “Smiling Sun” broadcasting station, which, inthe present case, starts at 20.00 and ends at 21.00 each day. The twotextual information items 7 and 8 are recognized by text filtrationmeans 19 as relevant for using the extracted text information TI atprogramming means 20. The further textual information items 6 (“Paris”)and 7 (“Town Tours”) are recognized as not relevant and are thereforenot passed to programming means 20.

For the purpose of a visual confirmation of the programming proceduredesired by the user, provision is made in the method for supplementaryvideo information DI, which represents the text information TI that canbe used for the programmable provision, i.e. “Tomorrow” and “Prime Time”and a plain-text rendering of tomorrow's date and the timespancorresponding to the peak transmission time in the present case, to begenerated by programming means 20, and passed tovideo-presentation-signal generation means 15. Using video informationVI and the supplementary video information DI, video presentation signalVPS, containing the two items of information, is generated and passed onby video-presentation-signal generation means 15, which videopresentation signal VPS is suitable for the joint visual presentation ofboth information items DI and VI and enables the user of device 1 tomake a visual check of the programming procedure.

In device 1, the control signal CI for reception means 12 isprogrammably provided, in accordance with the method, using theavailable text information TI in the trailer shown in FIG. 3, on the dayfollowing the programming, between 20.00 and 21.00, so that thetelevision series “Town Tours” with the part concerning Paris isreceived channel-selectively by reception means 12.

If, however, the user of the device inputs activation information AI tothe inputting means of device 1 for the first time or once again, i.e. asecond time, between moment T3 and moment T4 in FIG. 3, then, by analogywith the statements above, control signal CI would be programmablyprovided for reception means 12 at device 1 at Christmas, at 10.30 am,to enable the reception of the television series “Town Tours” with thepart concerning London.

Device 1, as shown in FIG. 2, is realized by a digital set-top box,which differs from device 1 as shown in FIG. 1 as described below.

Device 1 is equipped with a first connection 22 and can be connected atfirst connection 22 to a cable-television network, wherein both signal Sand digital data can be transmitted via the cable-television network forthe purpose of communication between device 1 and a data server, whichis not shown in FIG. 2. Device 1 is further equipped with a secondconnection 23, and can be connected at this second connection 23 to avideo-presentation-signal processing device arranged externally todevice 1 and not shown in FIG. 2, such as a television set or a videorecorder, wherein the video presentation signal VPS can be passed, viasecond connection 23, from device 1 to this video-presentation-signalprocessing device. Between video-information decoding means 14 andvideo-presentation-signal generation means 15, device 1 is furtherequipped with MPEG encoding means 24, which is designed to receive thevideo information VI decoded from signal S, and to generate and deliverto video-presentation-signal generation means 15 an MPEG-encoded videodata stream VDS representing video information VI. In the present case,video-presentation-signal generation means 15 is designed additionallyto receive supplementary video information DI for receiving andprocessing video data stream VDS.

As a component of extraction means 17, device 1 is equipped with picturestorage means 18, which, in the present case, is designed to store ten(10) pictures, wherein one single picture of video information VI can bestored per second. In this case, picture information PI represents eachof the ten (10) pictures. Text filtration means 19 is designed to filterpicture information PI as regards the text information TI contained inpicture information PI for each of the ten (10) pictures. It should bementioned at this point that a quantity other than ten (10) pictures,such as three (3) pictures or twenty (20) pictures, may be provided,wherein it has proved advantageous if the particular quantity ofpictures corresponds to the length of a trailer, measured in seconds,since it is ensured with a high degree of probability as a result, thatthe text information TI contained in video information VI can be usedoptimally for the purposes of programming means 20. In the present case,extraction means 17 is designed in such a way that the storing of ten(10) pictures is started when it receives the activation information AI.

Accordingly, using the method in the present case, ten (10) pictures ofvisually presentable video information VI are stored by picture storagemeans 18. The picture information PI, representing the ten (10) picturesis further passed to text filtration means 19. Applied to the situationshown in FIG. 3, the advantage is obtained, through the provision ofthis measure, that in the event that activation information AI isinputted in due time—e.g. between moments T0 and T1—both the textinformation TI located between moments T2 and T3, and the textinformation TI located between moments T3 and T4 can be made availableto text filtration means 19.

It should be mentioned in this connection that storage means 18 may alsotake the form of a toroidal-core memory, using which a certain quantityof pictures of the video information VI are permanently available,synchronously with video information VI, and that, irrespective of theparticular moment of the inputting of activation information AI, pictureinformation PI represents all the pictures located in the toroidal-corememory. This gives rise to the advantage that even pictures that, withrespect to the moment of the inputting of activation information AI,arose in the past are available at text filtration means 19, andtherefore text information TI contained in the pictures, to which thereaction of a user of device 1 was delayed, can also be used for thepurposes of programming means 20.

In the present case, text filtration means 19 is designed to recognize,taking account of textual information items 6 and 9, that the textinformation TI relevant to programming means 20 concerns two parts thatcan be differentiated from one another. Accordingly, a relevant textinformation TI relating to the particular part, i.e. firstly the textualinformation items 7 and 8, and secondly the textual information items 10and 11, can be passed by text filtration means 19 to programming means20.

In addition to filtering picture information PI as regards the textinformation TI contained in picture information PI, text filtrationmeans 19 is also designed to recognize that the text information TIfiltered from picture information PI is so incomplete that theprogrammable provision of control information CI for reception means 12is not guaranteed at programming means 20. As a result of recognizing anincomplete text information of this kind, text filtration means 19 isdesigned to pass on at least a part of the text information TI filteredfrom picture information PI as partial text information TPI.

Extraction means 17 is further equipped with text-informationsupplementation means 25, which is designed to receive partial textinformation TPI from text filtration means 19, and to transmit partialtext information TPI as a component of a communication transmissioninformation CSI, which can be generated and delivered using it. Inaddition to partial text information TPI, communication transmissioninformation CSI also contains a first address for addressing device 1 inorder to made it addressable during a communication via the Internet,and a second address to address the data server available on theInternet, which data server is designed to receive the partial textinformation TPI, to evaluate it and, if applicable, supplement it inorder to ensure the programmable provision of control information CI atprogramming means 20. In the present case, the data server is realizedby an EPG (“Electronic Programming Guide”) server. Text-informationsupplementation means 25 is further designed to receive acommunication-reception information CRI from the data server, and todeliver to text filtration means 19 a supplementation text informationCTI, which is contained in communication-reception information CRI andcorresponds to partial text information TPI. It should be mentioned atthis point that text-information supplementation means 25 may also bedesigned to deliver multiple items of supplementation text informationCTI corresponding to partial text information TPI if, for example, onthe basis of partial text information TPI, no clear supplementation ofpartial text information TPI by the data server is possible, and thedata server communicates multiple possible items of supplementation textinformation CTI to device 1 using communication-reception informationCRI.

Text filtration means 19 is designed to receive supplementation textinformation CTI from text-information supplementation means 25 and tocompile the relevant text information TI by supplementing partial textinformation TPI with the received supplementation text information CTI.In the event that multiple items of supplementation text information CTIare present, provision is made for the multiple items of textinformation TI present to be made available to a user of device 1, usingsupplementary video information DI, for the purpose of making aselection.

A circumstance representing the situation described above exists when,for instance, the trailer shown in FIG. 3 contains only pictures P2 andP3, and accordingly contains no specific, or filterable, timeinformation.

In a case of this kind, it is recognized using the method, by means ofextraction means 17, specifically by means of text filtration means 19,that the text information TI filtered from picture information PI,namely the textual information 2, 5, 6 and 7, is so incomplete that, atprogramming means 20, the programmable provision of control informationCI for reception means 12 is not guaranteed. If incomplete textinformation TI of this kind is recognized with the method, at least partof the text information TI filtered from picture information PI, whichis textual information 5, 6 and 7 in the present case, is delivered totext-information supplementation means 25 as partial text informationTPI.

In accordance with the method, partial text information TPI istransmitted by text-information supplementation means 25 as a componentof communication transmission information CSI via a communicationchannel, which communication channel takes the form of the cabletelevision network, which is connected to the Internet. Asupplementation text information CTI corresponding to partial textinformation TPI is transmitted from the addressed data server, as acomponent of communication reception information CRI, via thecommunication channel to device 1, and received at device 1 by partialtext-information supplementation means 25. The supplementation textinformation CTI is subsequently delivered from text-informationsupplementation means 25 to text filtration means 19.

Under the method, the relevant incomplete text information TI is furtherformed, using text filtration means 19, by supplementing partial textinformation TPI with the received supplementation text information CTI,specifically by a supplementation of textual information 7 with thetextual information “20.00 to 21.00” relevant to the programmableprovision of control information CI, and delivered to programming means20 as the complete, relevant text information TI.

This gives rise to the advantage that, even if text information TI thatis incomplete for the programmable provision of control information CIis present in video information VI, complete text information TI, asnecessary for the programmable provision of control information CI, canbe delivered to programming means 20.

In the event that a multiplicity of items of supplementation textinformation CTI corresponding to partial text information TPI arepresent, it is provided under the method that the multiplicity of itemsof supplementation text information CTI are used to generate amultiplicity of items of complete text information TI, and that theopportunity is offered to a user of device 1, using supplementary videoinformation DI, to select the text information TI that, in his opinion,is appropriate for the programmable provision of control information CI.

It should be mentioned that device 1 may also be equipped with storagemeans designed to store video data stream VDS. Storage means of thiskind may be realized by, for instance, a hard disk memory or asemiconductor memory. It may further be provided that device 1 is alsoequipped with data-carrier access means designed for accessing anexchangeable data carrier, such as a DVD or a CD+RW or asemiconductor-based memory card, for the purpose of storing the videodata stream VDS on a data carrier.

1. A device (1) for receiving a signal (S) that can be received via aselectable reception channel, which signal (S) represents visuallypresentable video information (VI) and text information (TI) containedin the visually presentable video information (VI), wherein receptionmeans (12) is provided, which is designed for the channel-selectivereception of the signal (S) in a controllable manner as a function ofcontrol information (CI) that can be supplied to the reception means(12), and wherein downstream of the reception means (12) is providedprocessing means (13), which is designed to process the received signal(S) and to provide the video information (VI) and the text information(TI), and wherein the processing means (13) is equipped with extractionmeans (17), which is designed to extract the text information (TI) fromthe visually presentable video information (VI), and wherein programmingmeans (20) is provided, which is located downstream of the extractionmeans (17) and, using the extracted text information (TI), is designedfor the programmable provision of the control information (CI) for thereception means (12).
 2. A device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein theextraction means (17) is equipped with picture storage means (18), whichis designed to store at least one picture (P2, P3, P4, P5) of thevisually presentable video information (VI) and to supply pictureinformation (PI), representing the at least one picture (P2, P3, P4,P5), and wherein the extraction means (17) is equipped with textfiltration means (19), which is designed to filter picture information(PI) in respect of the text information (TI) contained in pictureinformation (PI) and to supply the text information (TI) filtered fromthe picture information (PI).
 3. A device (1) as claimed in claim 2,wherein the text filtration means (19) is designed to recognize at leastone text specimen in picture information (PI), which is relevant forusage of the extracted text information (TI) in the programming means(20).
 4. A device (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extractionmeans (17) is equipped with text-information supplementation means (25),which is designed to receive partial text information (TPI) from textfiltration means (19), and to transmit partial text information (TPI)via a communication channel and to receive at least one item ofsupplementation text information (CTI), corresponding to partial textinformation (TPI), via the communication channel, and to supply thereceived supplementation text information (CTI) to the text filtrationmeans (19), and wherein the text filtration means (19) is designed torecognize that the text information (TI) filtered from pictureinformation (PI) is so incomplete that the programmable provision ofcontrol information (CI) for reception means (12) is not guaranteed atprogramming means (20), and which text filtration means (19), as aresult of recognizing an incomplete text information (TI) of this kind,is designed to pass on at least a part of the text information (TI)filtered from picture information (PI) as partial text information (TPI)to text-information supplementation means (25), and which textfiltration means (19) is designed to receive the supplementation textinformation (CTI) from the text-information supplementation means (25)and to compile the text information (TI) by supplementing partial textinformation (TPI) with the received supplementation text information(CTI).
 5. A device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device isequipped with inputting means (21), which is designed in such a way thatactivation information (AI), which is provided to activate extractionmeans (17) can be inputted at the device, and wherein the extractionmeans (17) is designed to interact with inputting means (21) and, ifactivation information (AI) is present, to start the extraction of textinformation (TI) from the video information (VI).
 6. A device (1) asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the programming means (20) is designed togenerate and provide the visually presentable supplementary videoinformation (DI), which represents the text information (TI) that can beused for the programmable provision of control information (CI) forreception means (12), and wherein video-presentation-signal generationmeans (15) is provided, which, using video information (VI) andsupplementary video information (DI), is designed to generate and supplyvideo-presentation signal (VPS), containing both items of information(VI, DI), which is suitable for the joint visual presentation of bothinformation items (VI, DI).
 7. A method for receiving a signal (S) thatcan be received via a selectable reception channel, which signal (S)represents visually presentable video information (VI) and textinformation (TI) contained in the visually presentable video information(VI), wherein, using reception means (12), the signal (S) is receivedchannel-selectively, in a controllable manner, as a function of controlinformation (CI) supplied to the reception means (12), and wherein thesignal (S) is processed by processing means (13) located downstream ofthe reception means (12), and the video information (VI) and the textinformation (TI) are supplied, and wherein the text information (TI) isextracted from the supplied visually presentable video information (VI)by extraction means (17) contained in the processing means (13), andwherein the control information (CI) for the reception means (12) isprovided programmably by the programming means (20) located downstreamof the extraction means (17), using the extracted text information (TI).8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one picture (P2, P3,P4, P5) of the visually presentable video information (VI) is stored byextraction means (17), and picture information (PI), representing the atleast one picture (P2, P3, P4, P5), is generated, and the pictureinformation (PI) is filtered in respect of the text information (TI)contained in picture information (PI) and the text information (TI)filtered from the picture information (PI) is supplied.
 9. A method asclaimed in claim 8, wherein, during the filtering of picture information(PI), at least one text specimen is recognized in picture information(PI) which is relevant for usage of the extracted text information (TI)in the programming means (20).
 10. A method as claimed in claim 8,wherein it is recognized by extraction means (17) that the textinformation (TI) filtered from picture information (PI) is so incompletethat the programmable provision of control information (CI) forreception means (12) is not guaranteed at programming means (20), andwherein, when an incomplete text information (TI) of this kind has beenrecognized, at least a part of the text information (TI) filtered frompicture information (PI) is transmitted as partial text information(TPI) via a communication channel, and at least one item ofsupplementation text information (CTI) corresponding to the partial textinformation (TPI) is received via the communication channel, and whereinthe text information (TI) is compiled by supplementing partial textinformation (TPI) with the received supplementation text information(CTI).
 11. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the extraction oftext information (TI) from video information (VI) is started atextraction means (17) when activation information (AI) is inputted todevice (1).
 12. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein supplementaryvideo information (DI), which represents the text information (TI) thatcan be used for the programmable provision of control information (CI)for reception means (12), is generated and provided by programming means(20), and wherein, using video information (VI) and supplementary videoinformation (DI), video-presentation signal (VPS), containing both itemsof information (VI, DI), which is suitable for the joint visualpresentation of both information items (VI, DI) is generated andsupplied by video-presentation-signal generation means (15).